Congress slams LG for seeking government formation, says polls only way

New Delhi: Taking a dig at Delhi Lt Governor Najeeb Jung, Congress said it was surprising that he was exploring the possibility of government formation in the national capital when the whole world knows that it is simply not possible.

"It is surprising that the Lt Governor is exploring the possibility (of government formation) when not only Delhi, but the whole country knows that it is not possible in Delhi in the present situation," Congress general secretary Shakeel Ahmed told reporters here.

Ahmed, who is the in-charge of party affairs for Delhi, said that the Lt Governor should be in fact the first person who should know that no party would be able to form the government here at this juncture.

The Delhi Assembly has been in suspended animation after the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP government stepped down from office in February this year. The AAP government had the outside support of Congress.

Ahmed alleged that the moves initiated by the Lt Governor were "all delaying tactics".

"This is all delaying tactics. BJP is trying to come to power through the back door with the help of the honourable Lt Governor. BJP is trying to run away from elections," he said. There is "no other option" but to hold fresh polls in Delhi, he added.

At present, BJP and ally Akali Dal with its lone MLA, account for 29 legislators in the Delhi Assembly. The party will require the support of five more MLAs to prove its majority in a House whose strength stands reduced to 67 MLAs after three BJP legislators won in the Lok Sabha polls from the city. The total strength of the Delhi Assembly is 70.

Bypolls for the three vacant seats are to be held late next month.

At the AICC briefing, too, the Lt Governor came in for criticism with party spokesperson Shobha Oza wondering what Jung had been doing all these months and why he has suddenly invited political parties to explore the possibility of government formation.

Told, meanwhile, that the previous Congress-led UPA government had appointed Jung to the post and asked whether that had been a "misjudgment", Oza said that the party was not questioning his appointment.